Excited about Jabaal Sheard?

I'm starting to be... Andre Carter had the one hand death grip, but this guy seems as strong as anyone I've seen his size and seems to have an overdrive gear when he gets near the QB to finish off by wrapping up or hitting the ball.

Doesn't have a lot of flashy moves, just subtle ones and goes right at the QB, regardless of blocker, like a laser.

Chandler is all arms and legs and patience, reaching around defenders. With Sheard and Easley, I see blockers being destroyed and gaps attacked, making Jones more effective on the outside. Thoughts?

I read the excellent Sheard break down thread and on reread, realize it kind of covers the same ground.

Oh well, it's off season and not like we're bringing in other possible impact players in a post SB season.

Yes yes I am. We finally have depth at defensive end and Nink can actually take rest snaps for the first time in three years.

My theory on why defenses struggle late in games is the lack of a pass rush. NFL teams aren't able to rotate players because of roster size. Ninko played way too many snaps last year. And, so did Chandler Jones in the games he played. Less is more IMO. Chandler, Sheard and Easley is 3/4 of a pretty athletic pass rush. Would love to get a DT in this draft too.

Sheard and Chandler were the two guys I wanted the most, outside of retaining Revis. So, you bet I am!

I'm getting more excited every day for a lot of reasons -

1. Never underestimate the ability of the Pats coaching staff to elevate a player's game. Just look at Pat Chung

2. He has a different skill set than Chandler Jones. I have long wished for Jones to develop a big power move that would bulrush an OT back into the QB's face. I'm just beginning to realize that might never happen. However Sheard has one

3. The addition of a legitimate 3rd pass rushing threat will make everyone better over the course of a long season. The Pats 4th quarter in the superbowl is a perfect example of how a pass rush wears down over the course of a game.

4. I think I saw a little of the "Dwight Freeney lean" in some tape I saw.

Dwight Freeney was a great pass rusher because, despite having just marginal speed. He was very successful because he was very quick off the ball and when he tried to go around the OT, he could get low to the ground, and thus didn't run past the QB like you see so many DE's do. This ability made Freeney very good for a very long time. I'm hoping Shead has some of this too.

I am concerned about his lack of recent success but hopeful this was due to external factors and not a lack of skill and talent. If he can produce for us he'll be a welcomed and exciting addition.

Yeah, I think it's obvious our focus has to change from a dominating secondary to a versatile one, which is not bad, considering the experienced and talented holdovers, especially if Dennard has not fallen over the edge.

We've got some ball hawks at corner[Ryan, Butler and Arrington at least] and Qbs under pressure will throw it up for grabs.

There's no replacing Revis, big money or no, so zone schemes using experienced players, and a great rush, could do the trick.

I don't think we've had a better secondary without Law [especially if any vet pickups prove useful], because we had less depth with Bodden and Samuel.

I love this signing ...

it is amazing how many snaps Ninkovich and Hightower played this year and made it to the Super Bowl.

I am sure there is a package where Ninkovich - Hightower - Mayo - Sheard - Jones - Easley are all out there together ... cannot wait to see it.

patfanken said:

3. The addition of a legitimate 3rd pass rushing threat will make everyone better over the course of a long season. The Pats 4th quarter in the superbowl is a perfect example of how a pass rush wears down over the course of a game.

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Which makes what the Patriots did in the fourth quarter all the more impressive.

IcyPatriot said:

I love this signing ...

it is amazing how many snaps Ninkovich and Hightower played this year and made it to the Super Bowl.

I am sure there is a package where Ninkovich - Hightower - Mayo - Sheard - Jones - Easley are all out there together ... cannot wait to see it.

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Or sit Mayo and play Collins

RayClay said:

Or sit Mayo and play Collins

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I forgot Collins ... sheesh how did that happen.

IcyPatriot said:

I forgot Collins ... sheesh how did that happen.

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My excitement is that, if they sign Mayo, Hightower and Collins can be unleashed on any play.

i hope Sheard turns into our Michael Bennett.

TommyBrady12 said:

i hope Sheard turns into our Michael Bennett.

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Stop it, you're getting me excited.

Joey007 said:

Stop it, you're getting me excited.

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Bennett - 6'4 273 pounds

Sheard - 6'3 264 pounds

Really good signing, even with the loss of VW their front seven is shaping up really well. If Mayo is healthy and back to form it is going to free up everyone around him and allow Hightower and Collins to get into the pass rush more. With the experience these players have together they are going to be able to run all sorts of hybrid packages

IcyPatriot said:

I am sure there is a package where Ninkovich - Hightower - Mayo - Sheard - Jones - Easley are all out there together ... cannot wait to see it.

Click to expand...

WIll be fun to see and hopefully it keeps a few people fresh for down the stretch

I think Sheard is going to play the role Bennett plays for Seattle as a LDE who slides inside to LDT in sub packages.

Hightower - Sheard - Easley - Jones

With Mayo and Collins at the LBs

That would be one of the nastiest pass rush groups in the NFL, like the Giants line in 2011.

IcyPatriot said:

I love this signing ...

it is amazing how many snaps Ninkovich and Hightower played this year and made it to the Super Bowl.

I am sure there is a package where Ninkovich - Hightower - Mayo - Sheard - Jones - Easley are all out there together ... cannot wait to see it.

Click to expand...

Jamie Collins is going to be our best defensive player and a legitimate DPOY candidate in my opinion, the kid has 115 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions in his second season. The overall play of Collins is unmatched by any other LB in the NFL.